Disney’s Descendants

For the past 20+ years, Shannon’s CMT directing/choreography credits and collaborations have included: Anything Goes, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 13, Crazy for You, Joseph, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ragtime, Mary Poppins, Jekyll & Hyde, Disney’s Tarzan, Aida, Barnum, Tom Sawyer, Cinderella, Singin’ in the Rain, Disney’s When You Wish, The Who’s Tommy, West Side Story, Leader of the Pack, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Chess, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Miss Saigon. Shannon’s regional performing credits include: A Chorus Line (Cassie, Val, Sheila); Chicago (Roxie Hart); White Christmas (Judy); Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbitt); Beauty and the Beast (Babette, Silly Girl, Carpet); The King and I (Anna); Chess (The Arbiter); Seven Brides (Martha); The Full Monty (Pam), and Disney’s When You Wish (Cinderella). Shannon is a proud CMT alumna, a full time mother to her daughter Sabrina and teacher to 300 students at ACDS, and has a BA in Theater and Dance from Santa Clara University.

Whitney Janssen grew up in San Jose performing in numerous CMT shows and Marie Stinnett Dance At the Gyms. Her first, of many, shows with Kevin Hauge was Guys and Dolls in 1994. Whitney created Archbishop Mitty High School’s dance program and has choreographed Beauty and the Beast, Addams Family, 42^ndStreet, Drowsy Chaperone, Spelling Bee, Rock of Ages, Bullets Over Broadway, Bright Star and many other shows at AMHS. She created choreography for CMT’s Marquee Production of Guys and Dolls and MainStage 50th Anniversary production of West Side Story. Whitney toured regionally in Aida, Beauty and the Beast, Footloose and A Chorus Line. Locally, Whitney has appeared in Peter Pan (Wendy) and Music Man (Zaneeta) at Cabrillo Stage, Music Man at AMTSJ, The Full Monty, Chicago and A Chorus Line at CMT’s Marquee. She taught for American Musical Theater of San Jose, CMTSJ, Marie Stinnett Dance, Notre Dame de Namur University, San Jose State University and Campbell Community Center. Whitney completed a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Millikin University and a certificate in Pilates from CorePilates NYC. When not at the studio or theater, you can find her at the soccer field with her boys.

t has been a full circle for this mother of three, who believes that every circumstance prepares an individual for a greater journey in life. Born and raised in Baguio City, Philippines, Pamela’s mother who was a dedicated educator, allocated her humble budget to giving Pamela lifetime skills. Pamela and her mother took many jeepney rides to ballet and jazz classes at the Velarde School of Dance, voice and piano trainings with some of Philippine’s finest teachers. At 10, she was a full scholar in ballet. When the family migrated to the United States, new opportunities emerged. In 1995, Pamela wrote and released a pop R&B music album with an independent label. Her single, No Reason, received airplay in local jazz stations and she found herself opening for Grammy awardees such as Eric Benet, Joe Sample, Isaac Hayes and Tower of Power. She supported herself through college by singing professionally around the bay area with a Top 40’s band. After obtaining her college degree in Business Management from San Jose State University, she took a quick pause from music to practice as a Certified Public Accountant at several big-5 Accounting firms. It was her first child who re-introduced her to her first love, music. It didn’t take too long to find herself back into the swing of things. She became the children’s music and drama director at GSCC church. She furthered her voice training with Lorna Emata-Goodwin and Seth Riggs, founder of SLS technique. Armed with renewed passion, she opened up PnC, a small music school in Milpitas, CA, which quickly became home to many young students and teachers. She branched out to teaching Voice, Music Fundamentals and Music Theater Basics at St. John the Baptist and St. Victor. Her credits as a vocal director and choreographer for community theater include Legally Blonde, Beauty and the Beast, Charlie Brown, High School Musical and Junie B Jones. She joined the CMTSJ Marquee in their production of Billy Elliot, giving her the opportunity to work with Kevin Hauge and Claire Alexander. She believes in continued learning and dedicates time to further her performing arts studies by attending classes in New York City. Pamela’s diverse background and influences in music is as eclectic as what you will find in The Descendants!